Caerphilly C

Caerphilly C. B. Multi Agency Forum / Community Cohesion Partnership
Meeting on 17 th February 2010
Present: Chair:- Inspector Alan Webber (Gwent Police), John Elliott & David Thomas
(CCBC - Policy Unit), Sgt. Robert J. Davies (Gwent Police), Howard Rees (CCBC-
Community Safety), Ron Davies (Director of VALREC), Jan Bennett (CCBC – Community
Regeneration Officer), Phil Davy (Head of Economic Development),Steve Mason (CCBC
– Community Education), Cath Watkins (Gwent Probation Service), Marion Solomon
(CCBC – Education), Clive Parish (Gwent CPS), Adrian Williams (CCBC – Social
Services), Mark Jennings (CCBC – Housing), Sharon Caple (Aneurin Bevan Health
Board), Andrew Mason & Alyn Jones (Gwent Police), Gary Meale (YOS), Alyn Jones &
Andrew Mason (Gwent Police)
Agenda
Item
1. Declarations of Interest - None
2. Apologies:- Jill Evans (Aneurin Bevan Health Board), Alan Royle
(Crosskeys Coleg Gwent), Superintendent Jon Burley (Gwent
Police), Elaine Clayton (VALREC), Jackie Garland (CCBC –
Education (Inclusion), David Chamberlain (CCBC – Arts
Development), Insp. Alison Hitchen (Gwent Police)
3. Overview & Update of the last 3 months.
Over the last three months there has not been a MAF meeting for
a few reasons. Key amongst these were problems with the heavy
snow conditions, and also unexpected police operational
reasons.
Action By /
Date
Alyn Jones of Gwent Police, gave an insight into the present
position regarding the delivery of counter terrorism awareness,
both in the force area and nationally. The work continues to
develop a partnership approach against Islamic extremism and
other forms of radicalisation, which may occur within the
communities of Caerphilly County Borough and bordering
authorities.
Meetings have been held with a variety of organisations, to highlight
the need to prevent radicalisation within the community.
Meetings have been held with: Education, Health, Crime
Partnerships, Black & Asian Women Step Out (BAWSO) & South
East Wales Race Equality Council (SEWREC), which included
workshops.
A question was asked as to what age group, within the Education
system, were the Prevent awareness sessions aimed at?
Generally, the answer is at Comprehensive school students, but
also to College students. Although, more awareness training
needs to be undertaken throughout Local Authorities.
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On the 5th February, Superintendent Jon Burley is due to meet
with CCBC’s Director of Education to discuss Prevent
Awareness, and also scheduled are meetings with head
teachers, in April.
Super. J. B.
4. Terms of Reference.
During discussion on the Terms of Reference it was mentioned
that under 4.7 some form of actions list at the end of the meeting
should be stated, so that relevant items can be brought back to
the next meeting.
Under 7.3 – Monthly meetings: It was stated that this should
continue on a regular basis, which should mean that meetings will
actually take place, if necessary with an alternative Chair, if the
regular Chair is not available. It is unacceptable, not to have a
meeting if the regular Chair is unavailable.
To also receive reports on Community Cohesion Funded
schemes as a regular agenda item.
A representative be invited to attend these meetings from Ystrad
Mynach College. (Insp. A.W. to contact college)
5. Community Cohesion Action Plan.
The Action Plan, as presented to this meeting, really requires
much more detailed consideration than perhaps this meeting can
allow. Therefore the Chair would like all members to take the
Action Plan away to examine, and reply with comments sent, by
e-mail, to John Elliott, by the 25 th February 2010. In addition a
small working group will be set up to examine the Action Plan, to
report back to the next meeting.
Insp. A. W.
Super. J.B.
R.D. & H.R.
6. Hate Crime Review Group.
There is an intention to set up a wider Hate Crime Group
managed at Newport, to cover all of Gwent. Concerns were
expressed about whether this would make Hate Crime Issues
‘Newportcentric’ and would not adequately cover the CCBC area.
It was stated that this Hate Crime Review Group would continue
to monitor cases in the Caerphilly County Borough area.
7. Update on the Community Cohesion Commissioning Group.
H.R. reminded the Group that £157,810 had been made
available, from WAG, to this local authority to be spent on
Community Cohesion Projects, within Caerphilly County
Borough’s Community & Non-Community First areas, by the end
of March 2010. The funding comes to this authority to work with
the Community Safety Partnership. A sum of £52,000 has been
secured from WAG (After intense lobbying) to ‘bankroll’ the
commencement of projects. One project proposal was for
Community Mapping of the county borough.
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Applications for supported projects were made in December &
January, and sent to WAG. However it was with a great deal of
surprise and disappointment, that many of these projects were
heavily questioned, and in some cases rejected, by WAG
officials. This was after we were originally led to believe that
‘Quick win projects’ were going to be favourably received by
WAG.
Superintendent Jon Burley is to meet with WAG to discuss
present & future funding conditions.
Super. J. B.
8. Briefing from Gwent Police Community Cohesion Team.
An update was given by Alyn Jones. The team has three
Community Cohesion Officers for Caerphilly County Borough. It is
apparent that Community Cohesion is not well understood by the
population within the county borough and the challenge is to
improve this situation. In order to get the knowledge of all aspects
of Community Cohesion out into the community, much more has
to be done, as it is through the community that important
information can be fed back, to be suitably actioned.
Current national assessments: The right wing, Defence
Leagues of England, Wales & Scotland may be demonstrating
support, in London, at the visit of a Dutch MEP to the House of
Lords, where he is to show an anti-Islamic film. Their
demonstration in Bolton has been cancelled. There is to be a
BNP rally on the 28 th February, in the Rhondda, which will have
an anti-Muslim theme.
9. Verbal updates – none.
10. Need for future briefing & development sessions.
H.R. spoke on this. The MAF is different from the Community
Cohesion Partnership Group (CCPG). There will be a need for
representatives from the member organisations, with a wide
knowledge base.
We must bear in mind that there are white, right wing
radicalisation organisations operating in the South Wales area, as
well as Islamic radicalisation groups. It may be useful to organise
short sessions on what Community Cohesion means within
organisations and within the community, to prevent the spread of
all forms of radicalisation, and explain how the different
Directorates and organisations represented around the table, can
contribute to this aim. Some representatives of the CCPG may
not perceive how they or their organisation can contribute to the
aims of the CCPG, so awareness sessions on a variety of topics
may be a way forward.
Insp. A. W. to speak to Super. J.B. on this subject as it is
important to capture exactly what knowledge members of this
Group require. A small working group may be formed to develop
this approach.
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11. Agreed Actions (By whom) for the next meeting.
1. A representative be invited to attend these meetings from
Ystrad Mynach College. (Insp. A.W. to contact college)
2. Superintendent Jon Burley is to meet with WAG to discuss
present & future Community Cohesion Funding conditions.
3. Comments on the Action Plan – also small working group
to examine plan (All members comments – to John Elliott)
4. Superintendent Jon Burley is due to meet with CCBC’s
Director of Education to discuss Prevent Awareness, and
also scheduled, are meetings with head teachers, in April.
5. Briefing sessions to be developed - Insp. A. W. to speak to
Super. J.B. on this subject as it is important to capture
exactly what knowledge members of this Group require. A
small working group may be formed to develop this
approach.
6. Lack of data for the Core Review Group - Alyn Jones.
7. Small working group to be formed to examine the Terms of
Reference.
NEXT MEETINGS
Meetings will be at 2.00pm – 4.00pm.
For Penallta House, Tredomen Park, CF82 7PG (Please follow the signs for visitors car
parking – except council officers who should park in the staff parking spaces)
Other venues will have directions in the paperwork, which will be sent out prior to the
meeting.
Wednesday 21 st April 2010
Wednesday 19 th May 2010
Wednesday 16 th June 2010
Wednesday 21 st July 2010
Sirhowy Room, Penallta House
Ebbw Room, Penallta House
Committee Room 4, in Tredomen House
Sirhowy Room, Penallta House
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